Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Holds Weekly Press Briefing

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova is holding her weekly press briefing in Moscow. Zakharova is expected to comment on the Mr. Kerry's visit to Moscow, the ongoing operation in Syria, and the ministry’s agenda for the week ahead.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will depart for New York on December 17 in order to participate in an international meeting on the Syrian crisis, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Wednesday.

“Tomorrow afternoon Sergei Lavrov will depart for New York to take part in the international group meeting in support of Syria and other events at the UN Headquarters that are dedicated to the Syrian settlement,” Zakharova said during her weekly briefing.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has called on Turkish authorities and mass media to not compare the downing of the Russian Su-24 bomber downed by the Turkish Air Force over Syrian airspace with the downing of the Korean Boeing passenger jet downed by the Soviet Air Force over the USSR in 1983.

“There is true misunderstanding from material in which Turkish journalists compare this situation, this tragedy with the no less significant tragedy that happened a few decades ago when the South Korean Boeing was downed over the territory of the USSR,” Zakharova said during her weekly briefing.

She added she was disturbed by the comments made on this material by high ranking Turkish officials that compare these two events.

“Of course, one can find many similarities. In both cases there were planes involved, in both cases there was sky, in both cases people died, but if we’re talking about official mass media and officials, then they need to understand what they’re talking about. The simple use of the Internet would show that it’s silly to compare these two situations,” Zakharova said.

Turkey’s rhetoric following the downing of the Russian Su-24 bomber jet by the Turkish Air Force over Syrian territory at the end of November has closed all doors for constructive dialogue with Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Wednesday.

“After what we’ve seen, not only after the downing of the [Su-24] bomber, but then after the wicked rhetoric that followed from Ankara, after that the possibility of constructive dialogue was unfortunately closed,” Zakharova said during her weekly briefing.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has no information on plans to expand measures against Turkey, ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Wednesday.

A number of news outlets earlier reported that Russia would expand its measures against Ankara.

“I know nothing about this and I have no comments on this, I don’t have any information,” Zakharova said during her weekly briefing.